Media Release

Education leaders announce plan to fix
Auckland teacher crisis

13 September 2017

In an unprecedented move, four education groups representing New Zealand’s
principals and teachers have announced a sector-lead plan to turn around the Auckland teacher crisis.

NZEI Te Riu Roa, New Zealand Principals Federation, Auckland Primary
Principals Association and Waitakere Area Principals Association have developed
a 10-point plan, which was launched at Fruitvale School in New Lynn this
morning.

The group is calling on the incoming Government to adopt and begin
implementing the plan within its first 100 days – by the end of the 2017 school
year.

“Attracting and retaining a range of great people with diverse backgrounds
into teaching in Auckland must be a top priority to ensure that children’s
learning doesn’t suffer,” said NZEI Te Riu Roa President Lynda Stuart said.

Waitakere Area Principals Association President Donal McLean said principals
were deeply concerned that if teacher supply was not urgently addressed, many
children would have their education compromised because of classroom
overcrowding or lack of a permanent teacher.

The plan has two parts – making teaching a satisfying and financially viable
career option, while also improving assistance for children with additional
learning and behavioural needs so teachers are empowered to give the best
possible education to all their students.

“If the needs of children with learning and behavioural needs continue to be
neglected, we will all suffer the loss of their potential,” said APPA President
Kevin Bush.

“There is no single solution to the teacher shortage,” added Cherie
Taylor-Patel, an Auckland executive member of NZPF. “But a comprehensive plan
that worked in Auckland would also succeed in other parts of the country
struggling to attract and retain teachers.”

NZEI Te Riu Roa, NZPF, APPA and WAPA recommend:

1. Make class sizes smaller in low decile schools by 2020 so that teachers
have more time with children.
2. Write off the student loans of teachers
who commit to placement in Auckland schools and other hard to staff areas for 3
years.

3. Let teachers teach rather than spending too much time over-assessing
children.

4. Increase teacher pay.

5. Investigate making affordable housing for key public sector employees a
priority in Auckland housing projects.

Genuinely prioritising children with learning and behavioural needs helps all
children achieve their potential. We need to do this by:

7. Increase the notional hourly rate used for Ongoing
Resourcing Scheme (ORS) and HHN funding – which has not changed in eight years -
to $19.00 per hour so that the work and skills of people working with high needs
children is valued properly.

8. Commit to at least a 10 percent increase in resourcing for Learning
Support in Budget 2018 to make up for nine years of a staffing freeze – we need
a realistic level of specialist services to meet demand.

9. Fund special needs coordinators (SENCOs) to meet the needs of every child
in every school in Budget 2018.

10. Value teacher aides and other support staff by committing to a Living
Wage by 2019 and a ten-year strategic plan to develop the workforce.